www.visitcapricorn.com.au Located 600 kilometres north of Brisbane and 30 kilometres from Rockhampton, the Capricorn Coast is an ideal holiday destination for families. Visitors can, for instance, dive straight into some of the world's best snorkelling as they experience the Southern Great Barrier Reef. With protected bays that provide safe swimming all year round, guests can create their own snorkel adventure, or join a guided tour with Keppel Explorer to show them some of the hottest places to spy colourful coral, curious turtles, inquisitive sharks and loads of other amazing underwater life. The Keppel Islands, including Great Keppel Island and Pumpkin Island, offer fine base camps to begin a snorkelling journey. holidayinnmelbourne.com.au Families staying at Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders during the school holidays will be greeted with a surprise in their room or suite, adding an extra dose of Holiday Inn's "Joy of Travel" to their experience. Families with a hotel reservation between September 21 to October 11 will find either a unicorn or dinosaur balloon set up in their room, together with a scavenger hunt. Upon check-in each child will receive a free Little Big Travellers package which includes a Melbourne guide that can be used to discover the city during the school holidays. Or ramp it up with the family Glamp-in-experience. Parents will receive the comforts of a refurbished hotel room, while the kids have their own teepee filled with pillows and blankets, toys and books to keep them occupied. And buffet breakfast is included for two adults, with kids under-12 staying and eating free. Phone 138 388 for more details. metrohotels.com.au The Metro Hotel Perth has deals valid until September 30. Pay from $159 per night for a standard room. The deal includes buffet breakfast daily for two, welcome drink for two (house beer, wine or soft drink), and complimentary wifi and car parking. The Optus Stadium bus service is located 100 metres from the hotel. The deal is valid for stays Thursday-to-Sunday. www.worldexpeditions.com World Expeditions has changed all of its Everest-region itineraries in response to Nepal's decision to close Kathmandu airport to flights to and from the country's most popular trekking region. In a bid to reduce congestion at Kathmandu airport, Nepali authorities have replaced Kathmandu with Ramechap as the departure-and-arrival point for all flights to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest trekking region. There remains one operational flight from Kathmandu to Lukla each day, which is reserved for Nepali locals, and airlines are forbidden selling any tickets to agents or to individuals who are not Nepali citizens. The new routing, which affects all tour operators in Nepal, is in place until the end of November, with authorities assessing whether to continue after December 1. Unlike many tour operators whose clients will depart Kathmandu by vehicle at 2am, to reach Ramechap in time for the first morning flights to Lukla, World Expeditions' clients will stay overnight in Ramechap to ensure they get a good nights' rest before they begin trekking. Phone 1300 720 000 for more information. www.cruiseexpress.com.au Cruise Express's 26-night British Isles Rail and Sail tour next May will take travellers through some of the most remote and beautiful countryside in Britain by historic steam and diesel locomotives before they board Regal Princess for a circumnavigation of the Isles. Guests will spend a night in London and then embark on an eight-night heritage rail tour of England and Wales, travelling in luxury Pullman Class carriages and staying in character-filled accommodation each night. The circular route will take in Salisbury, Dartmouth and Gloucester in western England, the heart of Wales including Snowdonia National Park and back to London through northern England via Carlisle and Skipton. The itinerary showcases some of the UK's most spectacular railway lines, with passengers enjoying panoramic views of classic moors and dales, mountains, streams, coastlines, quaint villages and travelling over historic and majestic viaducts. After a night back in London, guests will board the 3600-passenger Regal Princess in Southampton for a 12-night circumnavigation of the British Isles, including visits to the Channel Islands, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and France. Including return flights from Australia, fares are from $13,990 per person twin-share. Phone 1300 766 537 for more details. www.abeltasman.co.nz Kaiteriteri and Marahau, in the Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand's South Island, are also known as the "gateways to paradise" and are bustling all year round with water-lovers heading out on their days of adventures aboard sailing boats, kayaks, paddleboards and scenic cruises. Boldly go where no boat or walking track can take you, with a guided waka or kayaking trip, suitable for the whole family - with grandma in the back, and baby in the front, if necessary. Paddling the pristine coastline, visitors will discover an array of hidden coves, secluded beaches and granite ocean-carved archways just perfect for gliding through. Let the gently rolling tide lead the way for a few moments as kayakers take a look around at the idyllic scenery that surrounds them, watching playful seal pups as they frolick around in the water nearby. They're guaranteed to leave the coastline of this extraordinary national park with a smile on the face and a wealth of memories to reminisce on for years to come.

Best travel deals this week

Dive into paradise

Located 600 kilometres north of Brisbane and 30 kilometres from Rockhampton, the Capricorn Coast is an ideal holiday destination for families.

Visitors can, for instance, dive straight into some of the world's best snorkelling as they experience the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

With protected bays that provide safe swimming all year round, guests can create their own snorkel adventure, or join a guided tour with Keppel Explorer to show them some of the hottest places to spy colourful coral, curious turtles, inquisitive sharks and loads of other amazing underwater life.

The Keppel Islands, including Great Keppel Island and Pumpkin Island, offer fine base camps to begin a snorkelling journey.

Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders has special school-daynarrangements for families.

Holiday special for kids

Families staying at Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders during the school holidays will be greeted with a surprise in their room or suite, adding an extra dose of Holiday Inn's "Joy of Travel" to their experience.

Families with a hotel reservation between September 21 to October 11 will find either a unicorn or dinosaur balloon set up in their room, together with a scavenger hunt.

Upon check-in each child will receive a free Little Big Travellers package which includes a Melbourne guide that can be used to discover the city during the school holidays.

Or ramp it up with the family Glamp-in-experience. Parents will receive the comforts of a refurbished hotel room, while the kids have their own teepee filled with pillows and blankets, toys and books to keep them occupied.

And buffet breakfast is included for two adults, with kids under-12 staying and eating free.

Himalaya flight changes

World Expeditions has changed all of its Everest-region itineraries in response to Nepal's decision to close Kathmandu airport to flights to and from the country's most popular trekking region.

In a bid to reduce congestion at Kathmandu airport, Nepali authorities have replaced Kathmandu with Ramechap as the departure-and-arrival point for all flights to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest trekking region.

There remains one operational flight from Kathmandu to Lukla each day, which is reserved for Nepali locals, and airlines are forbidden selling any tickets to agents or to individuals who are not Nepali citizens.

The new routing, which affects all tour operators in Nepal, is in place until the end of November, with authorities assessing whether to continue after December 1.

Unlike many tour operators whose clients will depart Kathmandu by vehicle at 2am, to reach Ramechap in time for the first morning flights to Lukla, World Expeditions' clients will stay overnight in Ramechap to ensure they get a good nights' rest before they begin trekking.

Heritage rail tour

Cruise Express's 26-night British Isles Rail and Sail tour next May will take travellers through some of the most remote and beautiful countryside in Britain by historic steam and diesel locomotives before they board Regal Princess for a circumnavigation of the Isles.

Guests will spend a night in London and then embark on an eight-night heritage rail tour of England and Wales, travelling in luxury Pullman Class carriages and staying in character-filled accommodation each night.

The circular route will take in Salisbury, Dartmouth and Gloucester in western England, the heart of Wales including Snowdonia National Park and back to London through northern England via Carlisle and Skipton.

The itinerary showcases some of the UK's most spectacular railway lines, with passengers enjoying panoramic views of classic moors and dales, mountains, streams, coastlines, quaint villages and travelling over historic and majestic viaducts.

After a night back in London, guests will board the 3600-passenger Regal Princess in Southampton for a 12-night circumnavigation of the British Isles, including visits to the Channel Islands, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and France.

Including return flights from Australia, fares are from $13,990 per person twin-share.

Phone 1300 766 537 for more details.

Abel Tasman National Park ... boldly go where no boat or walking track can take you.

Paddle with the family

Kaiteriteri and Marahau, in the Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand's South Island, are also known as the "gateways to paradise" and are bustling all year round with water-lovers heading out on their days of adventures aboard sailing boats, kayaks, paddleboards and scenic cruises.

Boldly go where no boat or walking track can take you, with a guided waka or kayaking trip, suitable for the whole family - with grandma in the back, and baby in the front, if necessary.

Paddling the pristine coastline, visitors will discover an array of hidden coves, secluded beaches and granite ocean-carved archways just perfect for gliding through.

Let the gently rolling tide lead the way for a few moments as kayakers take a look around at the idyllic scenery that surrounds them, watching playful seal pups as they frolick around in the water nearby.

They're guaranteed to leave the coastline of this extraordinary national park with a smile on the face and a wealth of memories to reminisce on for years to come.